Tyrell Sutton to Raveion Hargrove: OHSAA football career rushing leaders

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The state’s rich football tradition is entrenched with the running backs who have scampered and plowed their way into the record books.

Some were majestic, such as all-time leading rusher Tyrell Sutton of Archbishop Hoban. Others left a great impact on Ohio even after they left to play college in another state. Remember Troy’s Ryan Brewer.

Meet Ohio’s top 25 career rushers. All but recent Hoban graduate Todd Sibley are confirmed by the OHSAA.

By Matt Goul, cleveland.com

Plain Dealer file photo

SUTTON GREEN

Tyrell Sutton, Archbishop Hoban (2001-04) -- 9,426 yards

Not only is Sutton the state’s all-time leading rusher, he is third in career touchdowns, and did it with a 5-foot-8, 218-pound frame that took him to Northwestern. Sutton became a starter as a freshman and rushed for at least 100 yards in 38 consecutive games. He is later wound up becoming Big Ten freshman of the year and is Wildcats’ third-leading rusher in school history with 3,886 yards there. Sutton played in the NFL for Green Bay, Carolina and Seattle. He is now with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.

Associated Press file photo

Jason Bainum, Williamsburg (1998-2001) -- 8,216 yards

Bainum owns the OHSAA’s single-game rushing record with 532 yards in a Sept. 28, 2001 game vs. Batavia Clermont Northeastern. He has three of the state’s best single-game rushing performances with the fifth- and 10th-best totals during his junior year. Joining Bainum in the top 10 for single-game rushing performances are Sutton and Willoughby South’s Kareem Hunt, drafted this year by the Kansas City Chiefs. Bainum went on to play at Division III Capital University.

Snow played four years at Ohio State with his best coming as a junior in 1989, rushing for 990 yards and 11 touchdowns. Before then, he starred for the now-defunct CAPE Crusaders during back-to-back state title wins in ’85 and ’86. They were only the second school to win championships in different divisions, IV in ’85 and III in ’86. Snow is fifth in the state for career touchdowns.

Ryan Brewer, Troy (1995-98) -- 7,656 yards

Ohio State fans can thank Brewer for Jim Tressel. Brewer graduated from Troy as the 1998 Mr. Football winner and state-record holder for rushing yards in a single season (he is now 16th). Brewer went on the play at South Carolina and won 2001 Outback Bowl MVP. That Outback Bowl performance came against Ohio State, which fired John Cooper the next day as coach.